Hippiefest: Peace, love and great music at the Mobile Saenger

MOBILE, Alabama -- With its Day-Glo colors, peace symbols and flowers, the psychedelic-looking poster advertising the upcoming Hippiefest 2011 at the Mobile Saenger Theatre evokes the golden era of rock ’n’ roll of the 1960s and ’70s — and so will the music.

Stars of this bygone era have grouped themselves together for a revue-like road show that comes to Mobile Thursday. Dave Mason, Mark Farner, Gary Wright, Felix Cavaliere and Rick Derringer will take turns on the stage performing a few of their classic hits.

“It’s a lot of fun. All of us love playing music,” said Wright, the “Dream Weaver” himself, talking by cell phone from on the road somewhere in his home state of New Jersey.

By JIM HANNAFORD

Correspondent

Back in 1976, it was almost impossible to turn a radio without hearing “Dream Weaver” or “Love is Alive,” both groundbreaking keyboard-driven hits by the sudden pop star who had been a member of Spooky Tooth and was a session musician for the likes of George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson. That huge success is half a lifetime ago for Wright, who is now approaching 70. He has a new single out (“Get Your Hands Up,” from his 2010 album “Connected”) and is between tours with Ringo’s star-studded All-Starr Band. In the meantime, he’s one of five legendary performers taking part in the Hippiefest, which will have nearly 20 shows under its belt when it reaches the Saenger.

Wright wouldn’t reveal all of the details of the concert, which he said would contain some surprises. But those attending can likely expect some of Mason’s hits as a solo artist and with Traffic (such as “We Just Disagree” and “Feelin’ Alright”) as well as a few Grand Funk Railroad chestnuts like “We’re An American Band” and “I’m Your Captain/Closer to Home” from Farner.

Hippiefest 2011

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1 at the

Mobile Saenger Theatre, 6 S. Joachim St.

Two-for-one tickets: Basic ticket prices range from $32 to $55 plus service charges, but the Saenger is offering a buy-one, get-one-free deal on the show. Tickets are available at the Saenger box office and other Ticketmaster outlets. To order by phone, call 800-745-3000; online orders can be placed at www.ticketmaster.com.

Guitar wizard Derringer is probably best known for “Hang On Sloopy,” his early hit with The McCoys, and his work with Johnny Winter, including the classic “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo.” Cavaliere, of course, was the singer and keyboardist for the Young Rascals and the Rascals, whose hits included “Groovin,’” “People Got to Be Free” and “Good Lovin’.”

Wright said each will front the same five-piece backing band except for Mason, who is traveling with his own band. There will be some collaboration among the different artists, too.

From Wright’s tone during a drive-and-chat interview, he is still celebrating being able to perform regularly, something he’s done since 1959, after an earlier stint as a child actor on Broadway. His million-selling and iconic “Dream Weaver” (having been featured in films like “Wayne’s World” and “Toy Story 3”), went to No. 2 in 1976, as did the follow-up single “Love is Alive,” earning the album multi-platinum status.

Asked what it was like to be a huge pop star in the mid-’70s and touring with the likes of superstar Peter Frampton, Wright said: “It was great. I had never ever in my wildest dreams expected that success. I’ve had a good run, and I can’t complain.”

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Jim Hannaford is a longtime journalist who performs music in the area as Jimmy Lee Hannaford.